Arches National Park is set to reopen its popular Fiery Furnace hike after a temporary closure due to staffing shortages. Park officials announced the closure on March 23, citing insufficient staff to conduct tours safely while also providing essential services in the park.
Permits for self-guided hikers reopen today, April 15, and ranger-guided tours will follow on May 4, according to the park’s website.
The Fiery Furnace is a restricted area of Arches National Park due to its challenging terrain—a series of narrow, winding passages between sandstone fins—and a permit system allows NPS staff to monitor the number of people in the area.
As of April 1, timed entry reservations are also required at Arches National Park.
From April 1 to July 6, and again from August 28 to October 31, anyone entering the park between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. will need a timed entry ticket in addition to the standard entrance fee or park pass. Visitors can still access the park outside those hours without a reservation.
Reservations aren’t required from July 7 to August 27, when summer temperatures tend to drive down visitor numbers.
Timed entry tickets are available at Recreation.gov or by phone. Next-day tickets are released at 7 p.m. each evening for those making last-minute plans.
Those with Fiery Furnace permits are exempt from needing timed entry tickets.
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